Windows of perception

Know what windows you choose 

to view the world through.

Know what reams of knowledge

you have collected over decades

stored in dusty boxes

in an unvisited attic.

Know there are many windows of perception

ours is just one, a small one.

Stand awhile 

at another window

see the cosmos from a different viewpoint.

Welcome new learning

new ways of seeing

however uncomfortable.

© 5 Jun 20

Rest awhile

Curtain the windows

close all the doors

turn off the radio

the non-stop thinking radio.

Settle body, mind and heart.

Turn inward.

Close off all external sounds and distractions.

Settle all inner movements.

Come to that quiet, peaceful space

apparently located within your heart-space

that turns out to be everywhere.

Meet that quiet, peaceful space

that has no location

no end and no beginning

is not associated with time or dimension.

And rest.

Rest awhile

no need for movement or agitation

nothing to gain, or to lose.

Rest awhile

freeing all claims of me

letting all limiting perceptions dissolve.

Rest awhile.

© 5 Jun 20

Word-birds

I sit, waiting

patiently, quietly

for the word-birds to come

to land on my shoulder

and share their wisdom.

Francis-like I sit

waiting to see if the word-birds will come

waiting to hear what knowledge 

they have to impart.

They will not present themselves

to an agitated mind

full of bluster and noise.

They descend unobtrusively

when I am gazing in a different direction

they arrive in the corner of my eye

as if wishing to remain invisible.

Yet the food they bring 

nourishes my soul

feeds my creativity

lightens my heart

awakens a deeper understanding.

I sit, waiting

patiently, quietly

for the word-birds to come.

© 30 May 20

Whenever I walk this path

Whenever I walk this path

I catch my clothes

on a protruding nail

and swear at the tear.

I know it is there

it is visible, not hidden

yet somehow

I again catch my clothes

on the same nail.

Each time it occurs

I exclaim loudly at 

another tear to mend

and promise myself to bring a hammer

and fix the nail.

Somehow, a fog of habit descends

and before I am aware

there is yet another tear.

This time, instead of shouting in anger

and frustration

I resolve to remember.

Back at the house

I immediately find my hammer

and leave it by the door.

Now

whenever I walk this path

there is no protruding nail

on which to catch my clothes.

The hammered head gleamingly smiles at me

and I smile back, grateful to it

for welcoming me

into mindfulness.

© 30 May 20

Stay awhile

Stay in presence with yourself
be actionless, merely responding
be openhearted and embracing
loving towards all
rest deeply in the unshakable knowingness
of yourself as a divine being.
Be the strong and steady staff
around which the elements of creation play
bodies, speech, minds, perceptions come and go
be the unaltering, infinite expression of love
be the essence from which
all action proceeds.
Stay awhile
Stay in presence with yourself.

© 31 May 20

Who do I say I am?

Space within and without and
suddenly this body is
no longer solid.
Fluid
Light
I am infinite possibilities
only limited by mind.
I am tree, bird, sky

Nothing holding me in this
particular form except mind
thoughts and perspectives.

I am pure energy
boundless, limitless, free.

© 20 May 20

Thoughts

I do not claim these thoughts
they dance into view
from beginningless
endless space.
I cannot call them mine
they are simply vibrations
to which I respond.

Sometimes I collect them
bring them close
place them in my shopping bag
hold them dearly
as if they are uniquely mine.

Yet I cannot claim them
mercury-like they slip out of reach
floating on the breeze
to a new receiver.
We are radios
finely tuned to pick up
certain frequencies.
Retune, retune
choose which vibrations to accept
and which to let float on by.
They are merely whispers on the wind
echoing from beginningless
endless space.

Retune
to hear silence speaking
to hear elemental hearts pounding
with life’s rhythm.

To call them thoughts
reduces the power of a mighty
cascade into a single drop.
To call them mine
reduces the energy of a
thunderstorm to a mere atom.

I cannot claim these thoughts
these words
dancing into view from
beginningless, endless space
they are the quiet calling
of your own essence
like meeting like.

© 2 May 20